Center City Summary

Pros

Independence National Historic park, home to Independence Hall, the National Constitution Center, and the Liberty Bell Museum

Impressive, historic architecture, including both landmark skyscrapers and 18th-century buildings

Penn's Landing, a waterfront neighborhood that's home to several historic ships available for tours, Adventure Aquarium, and the Independence Seaport Museum

The picturesque Rittenhouse Square Park

Quality restaurants and bars

Edgar Allen Poe National Historic Site

Cons

Lots of crowds in the summer (particularly Independence Day weekend)

Vagrancy is prevalent

Cold, snowy winters and hot, humid summers

What It's Like

Center City is Philadelphia's commercial and cultural center, and the vast majority of the city's hotels are clustered in this neighborhood. Popular historical sites, including Independence Hall, are located here, as is the Philadelphia Museum of Art (fronted by the stone steps made famous in the Rocky films). The picturesque Rittenhouse Square Park, located in the southwest area of the neighborhood, is surrounded by some of the city's best restaurants and bars. The ornate City Hall, built in 1901, is the second tallest masonry building in the world; its tower is a prominent fixture of the Philadelphia skyline.

Where To Stay

Business travelers will likely want to stay in Penn Center, the area around City Hall where most of the city's corporate offices are located. Those most interested in the historic sites should stay on the eastern side of the neighborhood, close to Independence National Historic Park. Those who want to be closest to the city's best eateries and bars might prefer to stay in the Rittenhouse Square area.